Friday, 27th March 2015, once again saw current and past players, officials and supporters of Newport RFC, gather in the Bisley Suite at Rodney Parade for the fourth Newport RFC/Friends of Newport Rugby Trust 'Hall of Fame' dinner and presentation. Yet again the stage was set to recognise the contribution of another seven individuals and one special family who had, in often very different ways, made their own important contribution to the story of Newport Rugby Football Club.

Everyone was delighted to welcome Mr. Jason Forster as our Master of Ceremonies for the evening. A familiar face at Rodney Parade, Jason joined Newport RFC from Bedford in 1999-2000 and went on to play 109 games for Newport (scoring 45 tries in the process) followed by a further 73 games and a Celtic League record 24 tries for the “Dragons” between 2003 and 2006. Along the way he managed to play for, and captain, the Wales 7’s team, including at the Manchester Commonwealth Games. In June 2004 he was awarded a much merited full cap for Wales against Argentina to the delight of his very many supporters at Rodney Parade.

A highlight of the evening was the appointment of Brian Jones as Honorary Patron of The Friends of Newport Rugby Trust being welcomed by John Evans, Membership Secretary. Last year Brian was inducted to the Hall of Fame “for both his rugby playing prowess and the unparalleled combination of service to Newport RFC on and off the field.” A playing career for Newport RFC of 330 games scoring 101 tries plus 108 successful kicks between the posts. Capped by Wales in 1960, a Barbarian, a past coach of Newport RFC and Chairman in our Centenary season. One time Vice President of Crawshay’s XV and secretary of the Snelling Sevens tournament.

There follows the citations for each of 2015's inductees as they appeared in the printed programme. In turn, they or their family representative, were presented with an engraved commemorative crystal tumbler by Will Godfrey.

Marc Batten

Born in Cardiff in 1960, Marc played for Felinfoel, Llanelli and South Glamorgan Institute before joining Newport in 1983. He scored 24 tries in the 1984-85 season. His try scoring record on his “Batten charge” resulted in representing Wales B against France in 1983. He also played for British Colleges. He made his 100th appearance against Newbridge in1986 joining an elite Rodney Parade “club” by scoring his 100th try against Newbridge in1988. In all Marc made 197 appearances and scored 109 tries including one conversion at Hirwaun in a Welsh cup match in December 1988. In the match programme for the cup game against Wrexham in 1986 we learned that Marc listened to Dire Straits and supported Chelsea. But we won’t hold that against him!

Assistant Head Teacher at Bassaleg, in 2006 Marc won The Guardian Teaching Award for Teacher of the Year in a secondary school for excellent standards in teaching Physical Education. Reflecting on his career, he remembered taking pupil Jonathan Callard (later England player) to play for Newport, the ‘lively character’ of Alix Popham, and telling Ryan Jones that he was not going to be a goalkeeper but a second-row! Ryan Jones commented "There's no doubt he's had a positive effect on my career. He's definitely one of the people who's had a positive influence on my life. At school I was more interested in tennis and football than rugby but when I decided to take up rugby it was based on the fact that my experiences of it, which had only been through him in school, were all positive. He was incredibly competitive and instilled that in me at a young age, which looking back has held me in good stead. But he made it fun as well, which is something I've tried to hold on to. He put rugby in a very good light for me."

Marc Batten is inducted to the ‘Hall of Fame’ for the high standard maintained in a continuous contribution to the sport of rugby throughout his playing and teaching careers.

Andrew Brown

Pontypool born Andrew joined Newport RFC in 2004-05 from Cross Keys where he had made 95 appearances scoring 7 tries.

In 2004-05, making his debut against Pontypool, he made a total of 30 appearances for Newport RFC scoring 4 tries in the process. The following season, 2005-06, he made his debut for Newport Gwent Dragons in a Powergen Cup game against Leicester in September 2005.

Andrew made his 100th appearance for Newport at the end of the 2007-08 season and was presented with his 100 Cap by David Watkins and Will Godfrey (Director) on 26th April 2008 after the game at Rodney Parade against Bedwas. He reached his 150th appearance coming on against Gael Force at Rodney Parade in the British & Irish Cup on 12th February 2010.

The 200th game milestone came against Llanelli at Rodney Parade 3rd September 2011.

He was elected Newport captain 2011-12. Andrew has made over 270 appearances so far.

Andrew has also played for Crawshay’s XV and Wales Premier Select XV.

Andrew Brown is inducted to the ‘Hall of Fame’ for over ten years of performances of a consistently high standard demonstrating leadership on the field of play appreciated by his fellow players and spectators alike.

Brian Robert Cresswell

Newport born Brian attended St. Julian’s High School where he won a Welsh Secondary Schools cap. He also played for Royal Artillery and St Julian’s High School Old Boys before joining Newport in 1956-57. His proudest moment was playing his first game for Newport against Cross Keys at Rodney Parade in November 1956 in front of a huge crowd with many supporters behind goal posts.

A blind side flanker, adept at marking opposition scrum halves, Brian played for eight seasons until 1963-64. He was a member of the victorious Newport team that beat Australia 11 v 0 in November 1957: and the Newport side that lost narrowly to the 1960 South Africans.

In all Brian made 236 appearances for Newport RFC scoring 39 tries throughout that career.

He won four Welsh caps in 1960, playing in all that seasons Five Nations Championship games. His debut came against England in January 1960. He played in the all Newport back row with Glyn Davidge and Geoff Whitson for Wales against Scotland and Ireland. He scored a try against Ireland and also later against France.

About the Newport backrow he said “The three of us just got together before a match and discussed our tactics”.

Unfortunately hemissed Newport’s historic victory against New Zealand through injury and was replaced for the game by Keith Poole.

Brian Robert Cresswell is inducted to the ‘Hall of Fame’ in recognition of his contribution to his ‘home town’ club through consistent international standard performances.

William J. Morris

Born in Australia in 1941, the son of a Welshman in the Colonial Service, he joined the Australian Air Force on the outbreak of the Second World War. His mother was a Russian from Vladivostok, who his father met in China. The family returning to Britain settled in Wrexham. On leaving education he became a solicitor.

‘Bill’ played rugby for his school, then joined Wrexham and also played for New Brighton and Lancashire, whilst working in Liverpool.

He was capped for Wales at under-23 level, before moving to Newport during the 1963-64 season making his debut against Bristol, going on as a second row lock to forge a strong pairing with club captain Brian Price.

A first cap for Wales came in a win against Scotland in Murrayfield in 1965. His second and final international cap was in 1966 in France - a narrow win for Wales.

In 1966 he was part of the Newport team that drew with Australia in their 1966-67 tour. In total he made 167 appearances for Newport, scoring 16 tries before retiring from the sport in 1969.

The final team that he represented was the Barbarians. Previously playing for them in 1965 against East Midlands, he was selected to join the team on their 1969 Easter tour. The same year he joined their tour to South Africa playing in four of the six games.

William J. Morris is inducted to the ‘Hall of Fame’ for memorable and consistent performances on the field of play to the credit of Newport RFC.

Alfred J. Panting

Born in 1914 Alf Panting played schoolboy rugby for Bolt Street School and Newport Municipal Secondary School from where he was reserve for the Welsh under 15’s. He captained Newport Schools when they won the Dewar Shield in 1928-29. On leaving school he played for the Municipal Secondary School Old Boy’s for a season during which they remained unbeaten.

Thereafter he joined Pill Harriers when an opportunity arose to join Lydney in the Forest of Dean where he remained until Bill Everson brought a police team up to Lydney. Everson asked him what he was doing playing up here and told him to get back to Newport and play in the next trials. After a few games for the United Alf returned to Pill Harriers where he remained until the outbreak of the war.

Alf being in a reserved occupation in the Garrison Engineers, he saw Pill Harriers disbanded but strived for the continuation of rugby at Newport during the conflict. He captained Newport during the unofficial season of 1943-44 and after the war he continued playing until retiring at the end of the 1948-49 season after captaining Newport United for two seasons.

On retirement Alf joined the committee at Newport as match secretary to Newport United where he remained for many years. He also served as match secretary to the first team, was twice chairman of the football section in 1959-60 and 1969-70, and was also manager of Newport’s tour of South Africa in 1973.

As well as being a loyal servant to the Newport club he has also served on the Monmouthshire R.F.C committee and as press officer for the Merit Table competition, which he helped introduce in 1972 and served on the Snelling Sevens committee.

Alfred J. Panting is entered in the ‘Hall of Fame’ for his dedicated life-long service to Newport RFC.

Peter Maxwell Rees

Born in 1937, Peter attended Lewis School, Pengam and Sheffield University where he played for Universities Athletic Union, being listed to play against Newport in January 1959!

After one game for Abertillery against Newbridge, while they were debating where they were to fit him in the side, Newbridge stepped in and snapped him up after which he played five games for them.

Peter joined Newport at the start of the 1960-61 season, injuring a muscle in the trials he did not make his debut until November against Leicester at Rodney Parade. A dozen games for the Black and Ambers saw Peter make his debut for Wales against England in 1961. He won four Welsh caps between 1961 and 1964: being recalled against Ireland in 1964 after a three year gap. He also toured South Africa with Wales in 1964.

Scoring 17 tries in his first season he ended with a career total club record of 158 tries after 330 appearances which included hat-tricks against Royal Navy in 1964 and Spartak AZKG of Czechoslovakia in 1966.

In club records he beat Ken Jones’s record of 146 tries in 294 games by scoring his 147th try on April 12th 1969 at Plymouth Albion. He set a record with Stuart Watkins in 1967-68 scoring 28 out of their 48 wing man tries beating previous. Peter managed to play in all 51 matches when vice-captain in 1967-68. He built a reputation for his bravery on the field and his strong tackling sometimes known as “Powerful Pierre”.

Peter went on to serve on the Newport football committee.

Peter Maxwell Rees enters the ‘Hall of Fame’ in recognition of his contribution to the records of Newport RFC through his prolific try scoring.

The Travers Family

With an Irish father and English mother George Travers attended Trinity School Newport and played virtually all his rugby for Pill Harriers. A great forward, he was selected for Wales against England in 1903, and played 25 times (22 of them whilst at the Harriers). He won Triple Crowns in 1905, 1908, 1909 and 1911, and played for the Welsh team who defeated New Zealand in 1905. Known in his playing days as ‘Twyber’, perhaps his greatest legacy was in founding the Travers family dynasty of rugby players. He had eight sons, Robert, George, Leonard, William, Chris, Matthew, Jack and Jim. Five of whom played for Newport – Robert 1926-27, William ‘Bunner’1935-1949 who made 143 appearances scoring 10 tries, Chris 1937-39, Matthew 1939-40 and Jack 1947-51. Leonard played for Pill Harriers and Jim for Monmouthshire Police.

George was a great hooker, his son ‘Bunner’ was probably the greatest hooker before the war and was hailed in South Africa as “the prince of hookers”. He made his debut for Pill Harriers at 15 in 1929 joining Newport in 1935. First capped by Wales in 1937 ’Bunner’ became pack leader and dominated the international scene becoming an automatic choice for the British Lions tour to South Africa in 1938 playing in 21 of the 24 games on tour including the second and third tests.

Given the Newport captaincy in war shortened 1939-40, ‘Bunner’ made a total of 143 appearances for Newport scoring 10 tries. During the war he played in fund raising service internationals and teams. He resumed his career after the war and played for Wales against the New Zealand army team the Kiwis. Chairman of Newport United 1962-63.

The Travers Family is inducted to the ‘Hall of Fame’ in recognition of their outstanding contribution to rugby in Newport and the wider community.

John David Widdecombe

John joined Newport RFC from Torquay where he had made his debut as an eighteen year old in 1974. His Newport debut came against Pontypridd at home on February 25th, 1981.

In all John made 260 appearances, scoring 37 tries 4 conversions and 7 penalties, before he returned to Torquay in 1988 where he became captain and continued to play for the 1st XV until he was 44years of age.

An England trialist and member of the English national squad, he also represented the Barbarians, Devonshire, and Crawshays XV.

John was one of the more popular players to play for Newport. He is particularly famous for scoring a “try” that never was in 1986-87 Welsh Cup quarter final at Cardiff which we lost 12 v 15. He made his 200th appearance in March 1986 and his 250th appearance in October 1987. Later assistant coach at Torquay John was still playing up to age of 50. He continues to coach to this day.

His commitment to Newport was amply demonstrated by his willingness to make the 200+ mile return journey throughout his time at Rodney Parade. That commitment was matched by a willingness to attempt difficult kicks at goal! Both the travelling and the kicks endeared him to supporters in equal measure!

In his book “Newport Rugby Greats” Alan Roderick comments: “the big Devonian would be launched at set pieces like some sort of south western guided missile or ….. a south Devonshire bull trundling unstoppably for the line.”

John David Widdecombe enters the ‘Hall of Fame’ for his accomplishments on the field of play and his steadfast dedication to representing Newport RFC.